State Trooper Accused Of Working 2nd Job While On The Clock

TRENTON — A suspended detective with the New Jersey State Police was indicted today for allegedly holding an unauthorized full-time job as an investigator for a private insurance company and performing that job while on duty for the State Police, Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced.

According to Taylor, James A. DeLorenzo, 54, of Blairstown, a 28-year veteran of the State Police who holds the rank of detective sergeant first class, was named in an eight-count state grand jury indictment charging him with four counts of official misconduct (second degree) and one count each of pattern of official misconduct (second degree), computer theft (second degree), theft by deception (third degree), and tampering with public records or information (third degree).

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The indictment is the result of an investigation by the State Police Office of Professional Standards and the Division of Criminal Justice. Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Monahan presented the case to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

DeLorenzo was suspended without pay by the State Police in August 2009, after it was learned that for 18 months, he allegedly had been concurrently employed full-time as an investigator for an insurance company without the knowledge or authorization of the State Police. The State Police requires members to receive approval for secondary employment. In his job application to the insurance company in January 2008, DeLorenzo indicated he did not have any other job, authorities said.

The indictment alleges that DeLorezo often performed work for the insurance company – including witness interviews, telephone calls and document pickup or delivery – during his State Police shift. The indictment alleges that he falsified required electronic time records of his daily activities for the State Police to conceal the fact that he was working for the insurance company while on duty. In addition, he allegedly used State Police vehicles while working for the insurance company, and is accused of unlawfully obtaining an investigation report from the State Police computer system to give to the insurance company.

It is further alleged that after uncovering likely insurance fraud while working for the insurance company and indicating to the company that he would report it to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor in the Division of Criminal Justice, DeLorenzo purposely failed to refer the cases to OIFP so that he could conceal his secondary employment from the State Police.

Dow credited the State Police Office of Professional Standards for its investigation.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a $15,000 fine. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.